For others, it's a place to practice after coming home from practice or a game.
For everyone that's ever played on an outdoor rink, though, it's a place where memories are made. There's nothing like playing Canada's sport in the dead of winter with snow falling everywhere while wearing layers on layers of clothing to stay warm.
The atmosphere of playing hockey outside and the incredible memories created is exactly what the NHL wanted to be apart of when they first introduced the Winter Classic in 2008.
Sure, they did it for the money, too, but this New Years Day tradition is much more than that. The games are meaningful, the atmosphere is electric, the players and fans love every second of it, and the magical performances are plentiful.
Seeing as today is January 1st and another instalment of one of our favourite traditions is on the way, here are the top ten best individual performances in the history of the Winter Classic. Enjoy!
10. Brendan Gallagher, Gillette Stadium, 2016
To truly appreciate Brendan Gallagher's Winter Classic performance against the Boston Bruins, you can't go by what you see in the boxscore.
For a guy playing for the first time in 17 games after having surgery to repair two fractured fingers in his left hand, Gallagher scored, added an assist, hit everyone in sight, battled in front of the net, and brought a ton of a emotion and heart to the Montreal lineup which helped the team win the big game.
9. Sidney Crosby, Ralph Wilson Stadium, 2008
The first ever Winter Classic was everything hockey fans and players wanted. For starters, over 70,000 fans braved the cold to watch the game, and secondly it was snowing pretty heavily.
The 2008 game also featured the greatest player in the world, Sidney Crosby, and he didn't disappoint, assisting on the only goal of the game for the Penguins in regulation and scoring the shootout winner.
8. Braden Holtby, Nationals Park, 2015
Braden Holtby started 2015 with a bang in the Winter Classic against Chicago.
The Hawks peppered Holtby with 35 shots, ten of those coming from Patrick Sharp, five from Patrick Kane, and three apiece from Brad Richards and Brandon Sadd.
Holtby stood tall though, making 33 saves in the 3-2 Washington win.
7. Eric Fehr, Heinz Field, 2011
Another Capital makes this list, but it's not the one that you'd expect to make it. All of the hype surrounding the 2011 Winter Classic was the first outdoor battle between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Once the puck dropped, the story completely changed though, as Ovi and Sid were held pointless and Eric Fehr of all people stole the headlines. Fehr played just 9:55, but scored two goals in a 3-1 Capitals victory.
6. Martin Havlat, Wrigley Field, 2009
The good thing about this list is that your team didn't have to win the Winter Classic to make it, which is great news for Martin Havlat as he's the only member of a losing team to make it on the list.
The Blackhawks started 2009 with a 6-4 loss to the rival Red Wings at Wrigley Field, but Havlat's effort didn't go unnoticed, as he scored a goal and added two assists, contributing on three of Chicago's four goals on the day.
5. Ty Conklin, Ralph Wilson Stadium, 2008
While Sidney Crosby contributed to all of the scoring for the Penguins in the 2008 Winter Classic, they would not have won without the play of Ty Conklin between the pipes.
The ten-year NHL veteran who isn't in the league anymore stopped 36 shots and then made a couple more saves in the shootout, capping off the second best goaltending performance in Winter Classic history.
4. Mike Rupp, Citizens Bank Park, 2012
The only performance from the 2012 Winter Classic to make this list came from the most unlikeliest of names, Mike Rupp.
The Rangers froward scored four goals in the 2011-2012 season, with two of them coming in the outdoor game.
What's even more impressive, he played a total of 7:34, the lowest number of minutes for the Rangers for the game, which they won 3-2.
3. Brian Rafalski, Wrigley Field, 2009
The first and only D-Man to make this list comes from the highest scoring game in Winter Classic History.
Martin Havlat, who we mentioned earlier, had three points for Chicago, but four players for the Red Wings matched that number.
Brian Rafalski was one of those players. His goal turned out to be the game winner and he assisted on the Detroit's third and fourth goals of the game.
2. Jiri Hudler, Wrigley Field, 2009
What's better than Rafalski's one goal and two assist game? How about a two goal and one assist game from his teammate, Jiri Hudler.
Hudler found the back of the net twice in the second period to tie the game at 3-3 and then assisted on Rafalski's eventual game winner in the third.
And if you're wondering who else recorded three points for the Red Wings in the 09 Winter Classic, it was Marian Hossa and Henrik Zetterberg.
1. Jonathan Bernier, Michigan Stadium, 2014
In front of the largest crowd ever at a Winter Classic, Jonathan Bernier had to battle the elements and the high powered offence of the Red Wings, and he delivered in a massive way.
Bernier made a Winter Classic record 41 saves and stopped another two breakaways in the shootout to help Toronto beat Detroit 3-2.
